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	County Town: Belfast County Population: 563,000 (estimate)
	County Antrim has a land area of 2,831 sq km (1,093 miles), and the UK's largest lake, Lough Neagh, cuts extensively into its southwest corner. Much of the county lies on a plateau, but there are also high rolling moorlands that reach a height of 554 m (1,817 feet) at Trostan, wooded glens, limestone caves and steep coastal cliffs up to 150-180 m (500-600 ft) high.
	Initially settled by prehistoric tribes then European Celts, Ireland never became part of the Roman Empire. In the 5th century St Patrick began converting the inhabitants to Christianity, and his cause was continued in the 6th century when many monasteries were founded. During the 8th and 10th centuries Vikings invaded the area, and in 1177 John de Courcy founded Belfast with the construction of a Norman castle. By the 13th century various Anglo-Norman explorers had firmly established themselves in Ireland, and later the Ulster Plantation saw many Scottish people settle in County Antrim.
	A scenic agricultural region with a varied and dramatic coastline, the beautiful Glens of Antrim are much visited by tourists, but County Antrim is best known for the Giant's Causeway. According to legend, the basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway are ancient stepping-stones giants used to cross the channel between Ireland and Scotland, which only lies 20 km (12 miles) to the northeast.
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